Thrust into the unwanted position of man of the family after his dad’s fatal road accident, Carlos finds ever more ingenious ways of avoiding work and bringing home the bacon. Boasting of his high-flying job in an estate agent’s office, he actually spends his days fooling around on a deserted beach.

Between them, Carabante and Villagran have created a truly memorable anti-hero. By contrast, the surrounding characters often lapse into caricature – Carlos’s extended family are either idiotic dupes or wailing females.

But the film’s sullen sense of humour is rich enough to overcome this, and the weird, brooding, strangely likeable Carlos carries all before him. A treat.Jim Burke